Hudson
Well-known member
Back at the Seattle motorcycle show, I fell hard for Husqvarna TE 310, surprising for me since I've never owned a dirt bike, but I've been wanting a dual sport I could take off-road. The Husky seemed the perfect fit, a street legal enduro with a lot of grunt. The dealer was a good 40 miles from home, and the weather was not cooperating to allow a slow ride home, so I reached out to the PNW crew for some help.
No surprise that Auburn FJR stepped up. What a great guy. He said he'd show up with his pickup, but when I looked outside, I was pleasantly surprised.
As excited as I was to rush over and get the bike, I figured I'd treat Auburn to one of my favorite eateries in Everett, Bobby's Hawaiian! Featured on the Food Channel's Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins, Bobby's makes some of the best Kahua pork in the PNW.
(That green lumpy stuff is Lau Lau, basically Kahlua pork and piece of butter fish for seasoning, wrapped in Taro leaves, tied in a banana leaf wrapper, and steamed. Auburn looked politely at it, but stuck to his BBQ pork sandwhich. It is an acquired taste.)
Bobby's was on Hawaiian time Saturday, so after a long lunch, we headed over to Tasky's Metric Cycle to pick up the Husky. Nothing like looking at your new bike all shiny and new on the dealer floor.
They loaded her up in the trailer for the ride home.
We got her home, and I suited up for a maiden run. It was pretty wet and muddy, just perfect for a maiden voyage. 23 miles later, shivering in the cold windy weather, what with no windshield, heated grips or vest, I nonetheless had a huge smile on my face. Riding a Husky has to be the absolute opposite of the spectrum from riding an FJR. I never got over 40 mph, but anytime I wanted to veer immediately off the highway and onto gravel or mud, I could. It was amazing how much fun you can have at under 30 mph, getting onto a forest road and giving the throttle a squirt to power through the ruts. I am totally hooked. The sound that a single thumper makes, especially with its smog gear removed and the power kit on, is intoxicating in a way that only an Italian sportbike can replicate.
More pix after the ride. I don't think she'll ever look as shiny and clean as the day I picked her up, but I frankly don't care.
No surprise that Auburn FJR stepped up. What a great guy. He said he'd show up with his pickup, but when I looked outside, I was pleasantly surprised.
As excited as I was to rush over and get the bike, I figured I'd treat Auburn to one of my favorite eateries in Everett, Bobby's Hawaiian! Featured on the Food Channel's Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins, Bobby's makes some of the best Kahua pork in the PNW.
(That green lumpy stuff is Lau Lau, basically Kahlua pork and piece of butter fish for seasoning, wrapped in Taro leaves, tied in a banana leaf wrapper, and steamed. Auburn looked politely at it, but stuck to his BBQ pork sandwhich. It is an acquired taste.)
Bobby's was on Hawaiian time Saturday, so after a long lunch, we headed over to Tasky's Metric Cycle to pick up the Husky. Nothing like looking at your new bike all shiny and new on the dealer floor.
They loaded her up in the trailer for the ride home.
We got her home, and I suited up for a maiden run. It was pretty wet and muddy, just perfect for a maiden voyage. 23 miles later, shivering in the cold windy weather, what with no windshield, heated grips or vest, I nonetheless had a huge smile on my face. Riding a Husky has to be the absolute opposite of the spectrum from riding an FJR. I never got over 40 mph, but anytime I wanted to veer immediately off the highway and onto gravel or mud, I could. It was amazing how much fun you can have at under 30 mph, getting onto a forest road and giving the throttle a squirt to power through the ruts. I am totally hooked. The sound that a single thumper makes, especially with its smog gear removed and the power kit on, is intoxicating in a way that only an Italian sportbike can replicate.
More pix after the ride. I don't think she'll ever look as shiny and clean as the day I picked her up, but I frankly don't care.
